About Me

This is my eleventh year as a library media specialist at Norton High School. Prior to that I taught science for five years at Southeastern Regional, but started my post-college life doing chromosome analysis in the cytogenetics lab at the Dana Farber Cancer Institute. When I'm not at school I enjoy spending time with my husband and two boys.

Tuesday, December 09, 2008

1984 Chapters 5-7

16 comments:

Anonymous
said...

I would much rather be a syme opposed to a Parsons. It would be awful living in a time period as described in 1984, but if that occured being a Syme would be for the best. A syme are creatures who are "specialists in Newspeak" (Orwell 48). Being an expert in the language that is taking over the country would be highly effective. You could understand everyone and communicate with other Newspeak pros. Plus books would be a lot shorter which would make the reading check quizes easier.

I would rather be Parsons because he "would never be vaporized" (61). I do not want to be Syme because even Winston knows right away that he would be vaporized, that he would disappear. I would not want to disappear, even in the messed up world they live in. I would want to survive and be able to see the world, see if it changes, and maybe see if it gets any better. I do not think it will, however.

I would rather be Symes. Symes is "...intelligent. He sees too clearly and speaks too plainly" (53) whereas Parsons "...has the stupidity of an animal" (58). I would much rather be able to read, be able to think and be able to understand rather than live a life of accepting what everyone told me simply because I could not think for myself (this is the ultimate goal of the Party: to have their citizens unable to express themselves, unable to think beyond what the Party shoves down their throats). Parsons lives like this. And for me, that is no way to live. I would choose vaporization over stupidity.

Although neither character appeals to me, I would rather be Syme because he is intelligent. Parsons is very unintelligent and less appealing to me. Sander's thought that the "ministry of plenty's certainly done a good job," but they clearly cut many rations of food and supplies(61). Syme, on the other hand, seems to be a sensible and logical man because he realizes that the "whole aim of Newspeak is to narrow the range of thought," but he doesnt yet realize that narrowing the range of thought is a bad thing.(52) I think that he has the intellect to understand the dictatorship that the Party has and, although he will most likely be vaporized, I would rather know the truth than live in ignorance.

If I lived in Oceania in 1984, I would rather be Syme. Syme is a man that is part of the Party but unlike Parsons, he is more intelligent. Syme sees the future. He says "By 2050 - earlier probably - all real knowledge of Oldspeak will have disappeared."(52-53) Winston is inrigued with Syme's ideas. Winston thinks to himeself "Syme will be vaporized. He is too intelligent. He sees too clearly and speaks too plainly." (53) I would rather be Syme for this particular reason. Instead of simply conforming to the PArty (like Parsons), I would rather also envision the future of it, even if I would be killed for overthinking (or as a threat).

If I had the choice between the two characters I would rather be Syme. Although Syme is a member of the party and has many views that I do not agree with, he is less like the other members of the party. He is more an individual than others and that is a trait that I admire in people. "He said things that would have been better unsaid, he had read too many books, he frequented the Chestnut Tree Cafem yet the place was some how ill-omened," (55). Syme has a brain and he uses it "- Syme will be vaporized. He is too intelligent. He sees too clearly and speaks too plainly." (54). I like the fact that Syme at least has a little individualism and speaks his mind despite what the party thinks.

If you lived in Oceania in 1984 would you rather be Parsons or Syme? Use at least two quotes to support your answer.

If I lived in Oceania in 1984 I would undoubtedly want to be Syme as opposed to Parson. Although both men are brainwashed by the slogans of Oceania, Syme is an extremely intelligent man. I hope that Syme begins to use his intelligence to take down Big Brother in the future as well. This is why I would like to be him. He has potential to be a good part of The Brotherhood if he begins to see the world as Winston does. The downside of Syme is made clear by Winston when he says, "Syme will be vaporized. He is too intelligent. He sees too clearly and speaks too plainly. The Party does not like such people. One day he will disappear. It is written in his face". Syme is not like all the other people in Oceania for many reasons such as "he had read too many books, he frequented the Chestnut Tree Cafe, haunt of painters and musicians". Syme lacks what most people have in this society. This is none other than stupidity.

If I lived in Oceania in 1984, I would rather be Parsons and be able to live a happy life. Parsons is unaware of the dangers of the Thought Police and he thoroughly embraces Big Brother. Parsons, even when the erased past took place one day before, "swallowed it easily, with the stupidity of an animal" (58). I would rather be unaware and happy, than aware and accepting like Syme is. Syme is aware of the ridiculous methods and ideologies of Big Brother, yet he has no aggression towards these absurd rules and just accepts it in his misery. Another factor that leads me towards Parsons is the that, according to Winston, Syme is a doomed soul in contrary to Parsons. Winston states that "Parsons, on the other hand, would never be vaporized" (61). In the end, I think that life would be more enjoyable and fulfilling if one is oblivious to the facts that surround you.

I would rather be Parsons. He seems to be happy in his life and happy with what his children's accomplishments. He always says "...Little buggars, eh? But keen as mustard!". He seems very proud of his children and can take some pride in that. Syme only seems to be concerned with his job and rations.

If I lived there, I would rather be a prole. Even though they may not seem that smart because they do not really know what is going on, there are more of them that can overthrow the Party. 85% of the population there is made up of proles. Syme is all about going along with what the Party tells people to do. "He had brightened up immediately at the mention of Newspeak."(50) Syme loves working with the Party and he is intelligent enough to never try and go against the Party. On the other hand, proles have the force and energy needed to get rid of them. "If there was hope, it must lie in the proles, because only there, in those swarming disregarded masses, eighty-five percent of the population of Oceania, could the force to destroy the Party be generated."(69) Overall, even though the proles are poor and not that intelligent, I would rather be one of them than a Syme.

If i lived in Oceania in 1984, i would rather have been Syme. Even though he "will be vaporized" he has opinions for himself. Parsons is the perfect example of what the inner party wants a person to be so he wont be vaporized, but i would not be that brain washed. I think Syme has many thoughts that are very unintelligent.

I think I would rather be Parsons even though he has "the stupidity of an animal." Though this may be, Parsons has pride and he is not a party member. Syme on the other hand is a party member and he "will be vaporized. He is too intelligent. He sees too clearly and speaks to plainly. The party does not like such people." I don't know about you, but I wouldn't want to be vaporized no matter how bad things are. I would want to stay and see if things get better.

I would rather be Parsons. Parsons "...has the stupidity of an animal" (58). He may be stupid but at least hes not going to get vaporized. Id rather be alive than dead. "Syme will be vaporized. He is too intelligent. He sees too clearly and speaks too plainly." (53) Id love to be smart, but not for this time period. If your smart here then your in trouble. Syme is doomed from the beginning and id rather have a chance.

If i lived in Oceania in 1984 i would rather be Syme. On page 49 it talks about Symes personality, he says "In an intellectual way, Syme was venmously orthodox". this shows that Syme is smart and isnt considered a threat to big brother, that he acts according to plan but he isnt brain washed, he still has his own thoughts which make him smarter than other people. However though, on a contradictory note, on page 53, he stays " One if these daysm thought Winston with sudden deep conviction, Syme will be vaporized. He is too intelligent. He sees to clearly and speaks to plainly. The party does not like such people. One day he will disappear. It is written in his face." This quote shows thate ven though Syme has a respect for Big Brother and his ideas and lifestyle, there are some things Syme knows to deeply about, and the fact that Syme still follows his own ideas makes him start to become a threat. I would rather be Syme because he follows his own mind but he does not let him get in trouble, he is smart and educated as well as aware of his surroundings and the people around him. If i was in Oceania in 1984, i would rather be Syme because of his tact: Stay within the enemies good graces, but never stop beliving your own ideas and theories, never heed to their wishes always remain original.

I would rather be Parsons because i wouldnt want him to know i was vaporized. Parsons "would never be vaporized" (61), so therefor it would be for the best. Winston knows that Syme would be vaporized. I think disappearing wouldnt be the best thing because i think he should face reality, and see if anything changes or if it stays the same. The only thing you would be doing if you disppear is running away from reality.

I would be Syme even though right away Winston knows that he will be vaporized. Syme is "intelligent" (53) and he also has the ability to read and write freely. I think that even if I was Syme and I knew I would be vaporized it would be okay because I got to experience life my way. Also, Parsons "has the stupidity of an animal (58) so I would not want people to see me that way.